Integration by Parts#
How to Integrate Products of Different Types of Functions#
The product rule for differentiating \(f(x)g(x)\) (i.e., \(\frac{d}{dx}(fg) = f'g + fg'\)) can be translated into the following rule for computing the antiderivative of a product:
This rule is known as integration by parts and its usefulness relies on \(f'g\) being easier to integrate than \(fg'\). The first consideration, given a product of two functions, is determining which factor corresponds to \(f\) and which factor corresponds to \(g'\) in the above formula. This will be addressed below.
Definition
Letting \(u=f(x)\) and \(v=g(x)\) (and therefore, \(du = f'(x)~dx\) and \(dv = g'(x) ~dx\)), integration by parts can be written more succinctly as
LAE: How to Pick \(u\) and \(dv\)#
The method of integration by parts is most commonly applied to integrating products of different types of functions. For example, the product of a polynomial and an exponential function or the product of a polynomial and a logarithmic function. Integration by parts can also be used to integrate inverse functions, like \(\ln(x)\).
When deciding which factor corresponds to \(u\) (i.e., \(f(x)\)), use the acronym LAE to help remember the order in which different types of functions are preferred.
LAE
To decide which factor corresponds to \(u\), prioritize:
Logarithmic functions (e.g., \(\ln(x)\))
Algebraic (including polynomial) functions (e.g., \(x^2\), \(1/x\), \(\sqrt{x}\))
Exponential functions (e.g., \(e^x\))
In other words, a logarithmic function is your first choice for \(u\), if it appears in the integrand. If not, then your second choice is for an algebraic function, and your last choice would be an exponential function.
Once you have selected the preferred \(u\), set \(dv\) to be the remaining factors of the integrand, including the differential form \(dx\). Furthermore, if you selected \(u = f(x)\) and \(dv = g(x) ~dx\), then
Example 1#
Product with an exponential function
Compute \(\displaystyle \int 2x e^x ~dx.\)
Step 1: Based on the integrand and the preferred LAE order, pick \(u\) and \(dv\).
Since the integrand is \(2xe^x\), the preferred choice for \(u\) is \(u=2x\) and therefore \(dv = e^x ~dx\).
Step 2: Compute \(du\) and \(v\).
Step 3: Compute the integral using integration by parts.
Example 2#
Product with a logarithmic function
Compute \(\displaystyle \int x^2 \ln(x) ~dx.\)
Step 1: Based on the integrand and the preferred LAE order, pick \(u\) and \(dv\).
Since the integrand is \(x^2 \ln(x)\), the preferred choice for \(u\) is \(u=\ln(x)\) and therefore \(dv = x^2 ~dx\).
Step 2: Compute \(du\) and \(v\).
Step 3: Compute the integral using integration by parts.
Example 3#
Integrating the logarithm
Compute \(\displaystyle \int \ln(x) ~dx.\)
Step 1: Based on the integrand and the preferred LAE order, pick \(u\) and \(dv\).
Since the integrand is \(\ln(x)\), the preferred choice for \(u\) is \(u=\ln(x)\) and therefore \(dv = dx\).
Step 2: Compute \(du\) and \(v\).
Step 3: Compute the integral using integration by parts.
Example 4#
Area under a graph
Compute the area of the region under the graph of \(\displaystyle f(x) = 3xe^{-2x} \) from \(x=0\) to \(x=4\).
Step 1: Write the area of the region as a definite integral.
Step 2: Compute \(\displaystyle \int 3xe^{-2x} ~dx \) using integration by parts.
Pick \(u\) and \(dv\) and compute \(du\) and \(v\). (Recall \(\int e^{ax} ~dx = \frac{1}{a}e^{ax}+C\).)
Step 3: Evaluate \(\displaystyle \int_0^4 3xe^{-2x} ~dx \) using the answer to Step 2.
Example 5#
Evaluating a definite integral by parts
Evaluate \(\displaystyle \int_1^e (4x+1)\ln(x) ~dx\).
Step 1: Compute \(\displaystyle \int (4x+1)\ln(x) ~dx \) using integration by parts.
Pick \(u\) and \(dv\) and compute \(du\) and \(v\).
Step 2: Evaluate \(\displaystyle \int_1^e (4x+1)\ln(x) ~dx\) using the answer to Step 1.
Example 6#
Evaluating a definite integral by parts
Compute \(\displaystyle \int 5x^2e^x ~dx\).
Step 1: Use integration by parts to compute \(\displaystyle \int 5x^2e^x ~dx\).
Pick \(u\) and \(dv\) and compute \(du\) and \(v\).
In order to compute the indefinite integral of \(10xe^x\), we need to use integration by parts again.